Phil A
-
Posts
637 -
Joined
Reputation Activity
-
Phil A reacted to Trek of Joy in Tight budget, full pack; any advice on glass?
I can speak about this from actual experience. Lots of random thoughts that I will assemble into a travel blog at some point...
I've spent the last year and a half traveling around the world non-stop, visiting 55 countries on 6 continents (my wife and I scraped and saved, sold our house and everything we owned just to make this happen). I've used a mix of Fuji (aps-c) and Sony (FF). I went with a mix of wide angle, standard and tele zooms with a 16-35, 24-70 and 70-200 equiv and then went with one fast prime at 28mm, my favorite walk around FL. My tripod is just a small Siuri CF travel tripod that weighs about 1kg for long exposure stills and static video shots, it also makes a nice faux-steadicam counterweight when shooting video and walking around. I've shot 30k stills and tons of video, most handheld, so IBIS or stabilized lenses are an absolute necessity for me.
Personally I'd ditch the gimbal and the fluid head and get an IBIS body. Seriously, when you go to places like any museum or the Taj Mahal they won't even let you in with a tripod or a gimbal, so avoid carrying unnecessary gear and the hassles of checking stuff with a crush of people waiting behind you. You can cut your bag weight in half just by doing that alone. The A7r2 or GH5 can be had for less than $1500 USD. Move to an IBIS body and a couple zooms with a fast prime. If you're sticking m43, I'd go with a Olympus EM1.2 or GH5, the 12-100/4 or the 12-40/2.8 and a fast prime like the 17/1.8 (or the Panny equivalents for dual IS), plus a cheap backup body (crucial). Last thing you want is to be in Namibia and have the shutter in your camera seize without another option to shoot the one time in your life you get to see a sunrise over the amazing sand dunes. I saw that happen to one person, ouch. Also two bodies means fewer lens changes and less dust, this is a big deal across Asia, Africa, South America, Central America, China and so on - because they're all incredibly dusty and it gets everywhere - so I never change lenses in the field, I just carry two bodies.
For everyday stuff the zooms are fine, if you're visiting landmarks like the pyramids in Egypt, Borobodur in Indonesia, the Forum in Rome and so on, you're limited to daylight hours anyway, so absolute speed isn't necessary and shallow DOF is silly when you're standing in front of one of the world's great landmarks. Getting there first thing when they open is more important -- always try to beat the crowds. Travel photography is less about subject separation and more about composition and when/where to finding the best light or best locations to shoot from.
Make charging as easy as possible, the fewer things that need batteries, the fewer chargers/adapters you have to carry. I carry a universal plug adapter with 4 USB inputs. My wife and I can charge a phone, iPad, my computer and my cameras on one outlet. Many places we only have access to a single plug, so being able to charge everything from a hub makes life a lot easier.
I carry the 70-200 with the a7r2 specifically because I spent a few months in Africa with multiple safari's and trips self-driving through wildlife sanctuaries, so I wanted more reach. Beyond that I mostly used the 16-35 (10-24 with Fuji) and the 24-70 (18-55 in Fuji). If you're not shooting wildlife you can probably skip longer FL's. For lowlight with Sony I have the 28/2, with Fuji its the 23/1.4 and 56/1.2.
Here are photo albums from most of the counties I've been to so far, I'm a little behind (47 of 55 posted so far), but you get the idea. All of my gear, 2 bodies, 4 lenses, a MacBook,a GoPro, a portable HD, Rode Video Micro, batteries, chargers and so on fit in a Lowepro Flipside Trek 450 AW. Total bag weight was 8kg and the bag fit on every plane (including small regional jets), train, car, bus, Tuk-Tuk and so on.
https://www.facebook.com/pg/trekofjoy/photos/?tab=albums
Cheers
Chris
P.S. Things like extra batteries, chargers, cards, plastic bags for bad weather, a blower for dust (its really dusty everywhere that isn't paved, which is most of the planet), lens cleaning cloth and so on are a given. Plan accordingly.
P.S.P.S. Traveling and shooting weddings/events are two different things. I wouldn't try to gear up for extended globe trotting with the same gear I use to shoot events (something I also do). With events your total kit weight is less of a concern since you're not lugging gear all day, every day - trying to check it on flights (weight + size), fit in cramped overhead bins on trains and so on. The dual camera strap is what I use at events, I'd never walk around in India (or anywhere else) with one because of the attention it would draw from police and gawkers. Plus its not secure at all, you'd be ripe for a slash and run.
YMMV.
One last thing - budget for insurance. A few hundred dollars will cover all your gear for a year. To risk losing everything is unwise, shit happens. Be protected.
-
Phil A reacted to Don Kotlos in Is 4k Any Better?
A properly sampled 2K/1080p with enough bitrate can go long way. Most often I shoot 4K to get a proper 1080p image. Thats why I wish all companies offered something similar to what GH5/s offers. An oversampled 1080p intra-frame high bitrate file.
-
Phil A reacted to Don Kotlos in Canon C300 mark ii - online tutor wanted!
I neither want to derail this thread, nor I agree with everything jcs has said over the years, but for anyone feeling depressed, the above steps can be a good alternative to medication.
He shouldn't be banned though. He was never offensive to anyone, he just often expressed his opinions as facts like everyone else in any forum ever existed. Oops.
-
Phil A reacted to kye in Tight budget, full pack; any advice on glass?
I'd suggest working backwards from what you're trying to do.
1) Work out what types of shots you are likely to want for your style of film-making - it can be useful to look at your previous work and look at what ended up in the final cut
2) Work out what you need to get those shots - there's no point having all the primes in the world if the situation requires being able to quickly change between a wide and tele shot to capture a moment, but also if your look is more important than getting every shot then a slow/bad lens may never make the final cut
3) Then work out what is the nicest / lightest / sharpest / fastest lenses you can afford
You might have the nicest lens in the world but if you miss the shot then the lens is worth less than a bad kit zoom that would have at least framed it right.
-
Phil A reacted to Inazuma in Sony a7 III discussion
I bought an old Hi8 camcorder because I think they have a certain gritty charm to them. Have been using it alongside the A7 III to film an indie band. Quite interesting to see the difference
-
Phil A reacted to Andrew Reid in Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
My dear erstwhile member can you please stop attacking John Brawley now.
I have long since given up on camera forum arguments so might not be completely up on who is right and who is wrong-evil / killed-a-kitten, but can we tone it down a bit. It's JB! We could be learning so much and having such interesting cameras talks with a film industry guy and I am sure one of the only people with a Blackmagic Pocket 2 prototype yet instead a handful of you are just bitching. It's pointless. Even if you disagree with him on certain matters, hold your tongue a bit for the benefit of the rest of us who are interested in what he has to tell.
-
Phil A reacted to Tone1k in Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
Seems like EOSHD is only for angry keyboard warriors like you who care more about a camera's specs and starting an argument and less about actually shooting and creating.
JB is a true professional who most of you here (including myself) could learn a ton from. Blackmagic actually give him cameras to shoot with prior to their release. Rather than engage in meaningful conversation, most of you are more interested in a slanging match than you are about actually learning anything.
I actually agree with John, we should stop using the word sissy as a put down.
What a toxic forum.
-
Phil A reacted to Django in Sony a7 III discussion
I haven't heard from the "big" reviewers about the bottom pixel issue either yet it appears pretty widespread. Most of those youtubers at the sony event aren't even videographers. Quite possible they didn't stress the camera under harsh enough conditions. Not to mention the A73 launch was in (winter) february and we're now almost summer. Regardless there are indeed overheating reports on YT. This dude shows shut down at 25mn under 30degC:
@kye i'd probably avoid if planning to shoot 4K outdoors in OZ heat!
-
Phil A reacted to Gregormannschaft in Sony a7 III discussion
You seem to be picking fights with everyone since that debacle with someone calling you out rudely a few weeks back, that's all. I can't remember this place ever being as nasty as this and it becomes a slog to read through – it's not only you, though.
-
Phil A reacted to kaylee in Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
I detest your attitude, and I have absolutely no interest in anything youre talking about ? A "condition of employment"??? ??? Are you high?
Great, youre American? You should be absolutely ashamed.
Dont you have better things to do? Thats my SHOCK – you think this argument is important!!! like your opponent. and now youre fighting me?
I feel sorry for you pal ?
Why has the word "sissy" been used on The Simpsons so many times? You dont think thats a "respectful" writing room?
Dude...
-
-
Phil A reacted to Shirozina in Fast apertures on the GH5 = Full frame
We are living in a post-truth / alternative facts world now so while it may be factually provable by optical calculations and various laws of physics that the only thing that determines perspective is the subject to object distance it is also equally valid to say a 'wide angle' lens has a certain 'look' that is independent of the format and personal belief in this or any other similar notion is just as valid. Indeed there is evidence to be had that there is a vast conspiracy involving all the camera manufacturers and scientists in the world to promote the idea of 'perspective' to sell more cameras and lenses. For many years now we have all been ready to accept the scientists opinion that the world is round but thanks to a growing number of brave and pioneering individuals and groups around the world the truth is finally emerging that the world is infact flat. Only just recently was I able to satisfy myself that this was indeed the case when I took my old school ruler down to the sea and held it up to the horizon - no so-called expert can argue with that can they!
-
-
Phil A reacted to Django in Sony A7 III users - colour as crazy as ever with no consistency between camera, computer, NLE
Nice catch but isn't this more an issue with Mac OS/Quicktime rather than the A7III? i can confirm similar inconsistencies comparing QT & VLC using Fuji/Canon footage.
-
Phil A got a reaction from kye in Blackmagic Pocket Cinema Camera 4K
I guess it's not about having more weight balanced by the gimbal (the Crane 2 is strong), it's about holding all of that with only one hand. I would hate to hold 3-4kg in a single hand (considering the bad leverage when you tilt the gimbal in that hand), we're reaching levels where a two-handed gimbal would make more sense for usability.
-
Phil A reacted to Dave Maze in Canon M50 mirrorless camera features 4K video
Of course. But I’m a youtuber. All my canon related videos get twice as many views as non canon videos. So I do whatever I can and find anything I can to talk about canon cameras.
-
Phil A reacted to BTM_Pix in My LUMIX Hardware Controller Is Complete
As someone less than politely pointed out on the other thread, I appear to have been a bit of a lazy arse in the almost 12 months since I tripped over and found the Cinelike d thing.
You may recall it happened because I was researching making a hardware controller and after several iterations, here it finally is.
And yes, it does look rather like a calculator doesn't it?
The different iterations (including an Android app at one point!) have been in pursuit of making something small, standalone, self powered, fast connecting, push buttons and with an integrated screen at a lowish cost and, well, here we are.
Here is the finished spec and features :
Compatible with all Panasonic Lumix cameras that can be controlled by wifi Integrated USB rechargeable battery Full colour screen 20 keys with 3 bank switch keys giving 60 direct switch operations of functions Control of Aperture, ISO, Shutter Speed, White Balance, Colour Profile, Contrast, Saturation, Sharpness and Noise Reduction. Automatic unlocking of Cinelike D and Cinelike V on GX80/85, LX10/15 and TZ10 Control of manual focus in fine and coarse steps Control of One Shot AF Control of Record Stop/Start Store and Recall 8 focus points 4 selectable transition speeds between focus points Store and Recall 8 setup presets (each consisting of Aperture, ISO, Shutter Speed, White Balance, Colour Profile, Contrast, Saturation, Sharpness and Noise Reduction) Presets are stored in non-volatile memory so are available in any session. Boot time to camera connection and control under 2 seconds. Wifi control range tested to 20m. Optional accessories :
Interface module to support Nintendo Nunchuck controller for manual focus control (native lenses and adapted lenses with smart adapters) and zoom (integrated lens cameras and power zoom lenses only) Wireless interface module to sync remote record and stop on supported Tascam, Zoom and SoundDevices audio recorders. The controller fits a regular cheap cellphone to threaded adapter holder so as well as being used handheld it can be mounted to anything you have a need for with the right attachment so could be on a cage or a gimbal or whatever.
I'm going to be doing some more testing of it in anger in the next couple of weeks and I'll put up a video of it in action then.
So, I have been a bit less lazy than first imagined
By the by, the controller has both wifi and bluetooth so it begs the question would anyone be interested in a version of it for the Pocket 4K ??
-
Phil A got a reaction from Mark Romero 2 in Using an external monitor to make using a6500 a better shooting experience?
If it's the same screen dimming as the A6300, it works okish on cloudy days but if it's sunny (imagine on a tropical beach, in the desert, etc.) it's invsible. You'll want to use the EVF then or a screen loupe.
About the cage, just keep in mind that you will probably not be able to balance the camera with the native lenses (16-50mm kit, 35mm 1.8, etc) on a gimbal if you put it in a cage. At least I can't get the A6300 in SmallRig cage balanced on the Zhiyun Crane.
By the way, the A6500 is supposed to show the overheating warning but not shut down like the A6300.
That's how I use it, just waiting on my UltraThin HDMI cable at the moment:
I have quick release plates on the camera and the crane so they can quickly go on my mini-tripod or tripod with fluid head. I also use some small quick releases specific for accessories so I can swap the arm with the monitor between the crane and my shoulder brace.
-
-
Phil A got a reaction from mercer in Lenses
Shot in 4k in V-Log L, just fixed it roughly with FilmConvert and some tweaking... but I shot in Aperture priority because I forgot my NDs and that was just the export for IG in super low bitrate (Instagram always turns it into mush anyway).
I think the Voigtländer lenses are plenty sharp enough, even though everyone and his dog says they're soft when wide open.
-
-
Phil A got a reaction from Kisaha in HDR on Youtube - next big thing? Requirements?
People in the professional color grading world think the screens of the Atomos stuff are rubbish for actual grading and it's just a marketing gimmick with the HDR.
e.g. http://liftgammagain.com/forum/index.php?threads/atomos-sumo-19-hdr-recorder-monitor.8947/
I was quite interested in the monitor-only Sumo but the specs are really not that interesting. It's not really 10bit but 8+2 FRC, and it only does Rec709 according to the the specs sheet. It's an IPS panel with up to 1200 nit so I guess you can expect the blacks to be grays when it shows the max brightness in the frame (couldn't quickly find any data about contrast).
It even says "Brightness 1200nit (+/- 10% @ center)" so I wouldn't expect great uniformity.
So I'd say it's still better to get a used FSI or get a LG OLED.
Unrelated: my only HDR capable device is a Samsung Galaxy S8+ and I hate how colorful the demo videos are I watched so far. Didn't help my taste that they were in 1080p60.
-
Phil A got a reaction from mercer in Lenses
Lately all I'm using is the Voigtländer 17.5mm ... wish the WiFi Remote had a better resolution so it would be easier to judge sharpness when wide open. Wish there was a lens like that with autofocus.
Played around with it on one of the last warm days we had. It's only super short clip because it's for the girlfriend's IG.
Password: smucho
GH5 with the Voigtländer 17.5mm 0.95 (pretty much all f/0.95 - 1.4) with Tiffen Warm Black Pro Mist 1/8 filter, all handheld. Total sloppy hack job. Just liked the combination of rendering and setting sun's light.
-
Phil A got a reaction from Cinegain in Lenses
Lately all I'm using is the Voigtländer 17.5mm ... wish the WiFi Remote had a better resolution so it would be easier to judge sharpness when wide open. Wish there was a lens like that with autofocus.
Played around with it on one of the last warm days we had. It's only super short clip because it's for the girlfriend's IG.
Password: smucho
GH5 with the Voigtländer 17.5mm 0.95 (pretty much all f/0.95 - 1.4) with Tiffen Warm Black Pro Mist 1/8 filter, all handheld. Total sloppy hack job. Just liked the combination of rendering and setting sun's light.
-
Phil A reacted to Mattias Burling in Sony A7R III announced with 4K HDR
People upset about no updated video features.. what did you expect?
The s-model cant be news to you?
